How to Validate a SaaS Idea Before You Write Code
To validate a SaaS idea before you write code, check three things on real pages: whether people search for the problem, complain about it, and already pay for a fix. The 9 checks take about 30 minutes, are free with no sign-up, and you make the call.
- Free
- No sign-up
- No score, you decide
Step 1: Check if people search for it
To check if people search for a problem, open the 3 links below with your keyword: Google Trends, Google search and Semrush. If nobody searches for the problem, Google won't send you customers.
Step 2: Check if people complain about it
To check if people complain about a problem, open the 3 links below: Reddit, Reddit “I wish” posts and Hacker News. Complaints prove the problem hurts. The links only show posts from the past year, because an old complaint may already be solved.
Step 3: Check if people already pay for it
To check if people already pay, open the 3 links below: a Google “pricing” search, G2 and Product Hunt. Competitors are good news because paying customers prove the demand, and competitors' bad reviews are your opening.
Step 4: Set a pass line before you build
A pass line is the click rate you pick before building, so the result can't talk you into anything. Don't build yet. Make a one-page site with a "Join the waitlist" or "Pre-order" button and count the clicks for 28 days. Example: "Meeting notes to Jira tasks, $9/mo. Join the waitlist."
This is the rule we use for our own ideas, not an industry standard.
Step 5: Talk to 5 people
Talking to 5 people is the last check: ask about what already happened, not whether they'd buy. Everyone says yes to a hypothetical. Below are 5 interview questions and a Reddit post template you can copy.
I'll run the same checks for you and send a report within 48 hours. $19.
Why this tool doesn't give you a score
SaaS Idea Check gives no score because a score like 78% can't be checked: most idea validators don't show how the number was made. This tool links 9 real pages you open and judge yourself.
| AI scoring tools | This tool | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | A score and a paragraph | 9 real pages you can open |
| Can you check it? | No | Yes, you see them yourself |
| Sign-up needed? | Usually sign-up or email | No |
| What to do next | Rarely says | A pass line and interview scripts |
SaaS Idea Check works best for B2B or small-team software where buyers search in English. The checks are less useful for brand-new categories nobody searches for yet.
FAQ
How long does it take to validate a SaaS idea?
About 30 minutes for the three checks. Give the button page 28 days.
What counts as a validated idea?
Use the Step 4 rule: if more than 5% of visitors click the button, keep going; 2–5%, talk to the people who left an email; under 2%, drop it. Don't judge with fewer than 100 visitors. This is our own rule, not an industry standard.
Can AI validate my startup idea?
AI can help you think of questions, but you can't check how it scores. Whether people search, complain and pay is something you see on real pages.
Is this free? Do you store my idea?
Yes, free and no sign-up. What you type is saved only in your own browser and never sent to us.